Car unloader



E. H. MESSITER Mar; 6, 1923.

CAR UNLOADER Filed Nov. 26, 1919 4 sheets-sheet 1 Mar. 6, 1923. 1,447,596

Y E. H. MESSITER GAR UNLOADER Filed Nov. 26, 1919 4 sheets-sheet 2 amount Mar. 6, 1923.

E. H. MESSITER CAR UNLOADER Filed Nov. 26, 1919 4 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

1,447,596 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN H. MESSITER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. 7

CAR UNLOADER.

Application filed November 26, 1919. Serial No. 840,854.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDWIN H. MESSITER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Brooklyn, Kings County, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Car Unloaders, of which the ollowing is a specification.

-My present invention relates to the loading and unloading of railway cars and other cargo carriers and refers in particular to the handling of such cargoes as coal and the like.

The objects of the invention are to provide practical and relatively simple apparatus for breaking up, sorting and shifting the cargo material and particularly the breaking up of cargoes which may have become solidified as by freezing.

Speaking generally, the invention involves a device usually in the nature of a pick, and mechanism under control of an operator for actuating the same to accom plish the movements desired.

Other novel features of the invention, details of construction, combination and arrangements of parts will be pointed out and referred to in the following specification which is to be read in conjunction with the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof and in which I have illustrated one of the practical forms in which the invention may be embodied.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is an enlarged and broken top plan view of the motive mechanism.

Figure 3 is a broken plan view of the control mechanism which ure 2.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of one of the control circuits.

Figure 5 is a broken detail view of the universally movable controller and Figure 6 is a similar view showing a continuation of the controller rod and the manually operable parts of the control devices actuated thereby.

In Figure 1 I have illustrated the appalaws as applied to probably what is its most common use, that is, to the unloading of coal cars, one of which is indicated diagrammatically at 7 traveling on the track 8.

The body or supporting structure ofmy is omitted from Figapparatus includes a car structure 9 arched over the railway 8 and mounted on wheels 10 so that it may be shifted, if desired. A This provides either for shifting the apparatus over the cars or for running the cars 1nto the apparatus. I

Mounted 1n the supporting structure is a longitudinally extending trackway 11 which is vertically movable in the structure and may be counterbalanced by weights 12 having lines 12 running over sheaves 12" and connected to this vertically. movable carriage at 12, said carriage being guided bye suitable guide lines 13, the latter being w shown as. connected at opposite ends with longitudinally separated points of the trackway and as extending diagonally between such points over pulleys 14 on the supporting structure. This trackway is shifted vertically by drive mechanism involving in the present case longitudinally extending shafts 15 carrying pinions 16 at their opposite ends engaging the vertical racks 17.

Traveling longitudinally on the trackway 11 is a] bridge structure 19 provided with supporting wheels 20 riding on the rails of said trackway. This bridge is shown as driven by means of a transversely extending shaft 21 journaled on the bridge and carrying pinion 22 at its opposite ends engaging longitudinally extending racks 23 carried by the trackway.

Traveling transversely on the bridge is a car structure 24 havingwheels 25 riding on the transversely extending rails 26 carried by the bridge. This car is traversed by a drive shaft 27 journaled in the car and carrying pinions 28 at its opposite ends engaging the transverse racks 29 carried by the bridge.

This car carries the cargo engaging memher which, in accordance with the character of the cargo, may be in the form of a pick, rake, shovel or other suitable element. In the illustration itis indicated in the form of 100 .a wedge shaped pick 30 such as would be used in conjunction with the pick, a pair of brushes 3%, carried by the arms 35, pivoted at opposite sides of the pick and adapted to beswung down into position for brushing out a car, by means, for instance, of a foot pedal 36, connecmd with an arm 37, which carries a gear 38 on one of the brush pivots and in mesh with the gear 39 on the other brush pivot. When not in use these brushes will lay flat beneath the ear and when it is desired to use thennfo'r instance for sweeping out an emptied earbody, they may be lowered into position for use, by simply depressing the pedal 36.

The motive mechanism for shifting the car and the operating tool carried thereby comprises, in the present disclosure, a separate electric motor fer eflecting each of the movements described. Thus in the illustration 4:0 designates the motor for effecting the vertical movement of the carrier, said motor being shown as connected by bevel gearing $1 with a transverse shaft 4-2 on the bridge which carries bevel gears 43 at its opposite ends meshing with the bevel gears 4:4: splined on the lifting and lowering-shafts l5.

l5 designates the motor for efi'ecting the longitudinal travel of the bridgewhich, like the vertical drive motor is also mounted on the car 24, it being connected .by bevel gearing 46 directly with the transverse shaft 21,

said gearing having a sliding connection with such shaft, as indicated, to allow for the transverse movements of the carriage.

l7 indicates the motor for efiecting the transverse movement of the carriage, said motor being mounted on the carriage and ill.

vthese movements; p i The mechanism by which having a direct connection with the driving shaft 27 for moving the carriage transversely.

The carriage which carries the tool or working instrument, thus has a vertical, a

longitudinal and a transverse movement, or a combination of any two or all three of the motors are controlled comprises 'in' the presentdisclosure a controller rod 50 mounted to have universal movements corresponding to or approximating these movements which it is intended to efiect with the tool. The rod are pivoted on the upper ends of the links 7 52, which links are in turn pivoted at 53 onthe rock shaft 54. The linksor arms 52 are. shown as held-in parallelism by connecting links 55. This construction, it will be evident, permits .of longitudinal, transverse and vertical movements of the controller rod or any combination .ofsuch movements.

The motor control devices or switches are,

in the illustration, locerted within a suitable box 56 as shown in Figures 1, and 3. These Menace control devices are illustrated in detail in Figures 4 and 5. The vertical control device comprises a vertically disposed control plate 57 having a horizontal slot 58 therein through which a portion of the controller rod passes, said plate having a plurality of contact strips 59 interrupted or left blank at an intermediate point, as indicated at 60. Cooperating with these contact strips and with the blank or non-conducting intermediate portion thereof, is the brush element 61, shown in Figure 4 as having contact strips 62 to match the contact strips on the shiftable plate member. This brush member is shown carried by a rack element 63 which is engaged by a pinion 64 driven by a flexible connection 65 and worm gearings 66, 67 from the vertical driving shaft 42. From this it follows that the brush element is shifted in proportion to the movement of the vertical driving mechanism and hence in proportion to the vertical movement of the carriage itself.

The operation of the control thus far described is as follows:

When the control rod is depressed, the

mechanism control plate 57 will be depremed therebv parted to the movable control plate. In

other words, the brush element follows the movement of the control element and permits the motor to remain in circuit only so long asis necessary to effect a movement of the apparatus directly proportioned to the movement imparted tothe controller.- This movement of the controller may be a few inches while the movement imparted to the unloading device may be a matter of several feet. lineachinstance the operator simply .moves' the controllerl rod an amount proportioned to the movement desired of the tool and the tool, after completing such movement, automatically comes to rest without any further action on the part of the operator.

The back and forth or longitudinal tram involves a vertically disposed but transblank portion 74 and arranged to be engaged by a brush element similar to the one before described and indicated at 75 in Figure 3. This brush element like the first one described is propelled by gearing 76, 77, 78 and 79 from the longitudinally driving shaft 21.

The transverse movement control device versely shiftable plate 80 having a verti cal slot 81 thereinthrough which the controller rod passes and provided with contact strips 82 separated by an intermediate non-conducting portion 83 arranged for engagement by the brush member 84. This brush member similarly is traversed or cause to proportionately followthe transverse shifting of the tool by means of the gearing indicated at 85; 86, 87 and 88 to the transversely driving shaft 27.

In the construction illustrated the driver has a seat 90 on the tool carrying car 24 and is thus in a position to observe the work and readily effect the proper movements of the tool. The driver may be protected by a housing or cover 91 applied to the supporting structure.

It will be apparent that with this invention it is possible for the operator to manipulate the tool with a hand-like movement so as to shift or break up the cargo just as desired. the tool following all.the movements imparted by the operator to the controller which may be either fast or slow and which may be varied to suit difi'erent conditions. The controller handle may be balanced as by counterweighting the supporting links 52, as indicated at 92 in Figure 5, so as to reduce so far as possible the effort necessary to operate the controller.

I have not gone into great detail in the matter of electric circuits because it will be understood that this is a matter which will be varied to suit different requirements. Ordinarily, however, I propose to use different sets of control magnets, such as indicated at 68 and at 93 in Figure 4 governed by the separated portions of the strip contacts for effecting the reverse movements of the difi erent motors It will be understood that many variations may be made in the structure to meet difierent situations and this without departure from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is: Y

1. The combination with a universally shiftable controller, of control mechanism variably operable in accordance with the different movements of said universally movable controller, an operating tool and motive mechanism therefor governed by the control mechanism and actuated thereby to cause the tool to simulate the movements of the controller.

2. In combination with a movable member and motive mechanism for driving the same in various directions, a controller movable in various directions and control mechanism for the motive mechanism traveling in proportion to the movement imparted to the movable member and arranged to stop the movement of such movable member when it has approximated the movement of the con troller.

3. The combination with a movable member and motor mechanism for driving the same in various directions, of a controller movable in various directions and control mechanism for the motor mechanism actuated by said controller and including control elements driven by the motor mecha* nism and arranged to stop the same when their movements have approximated those of the controller. I

4:- The combination with a movable member movable in different planes, motor mechanism for operating the movable member in such planes, control mechanism for the motor mechanism including control elements movable in different planes and a controller for shifting said elements in such different planes.

5. The combination with a universally movable member and motor mechanism for driving the same, of a universally movable controller and control mechanism for the motor mechanism including control elements movable in different planes by the controller.

6. The combination with a universally movable member and motor mechanism for driving-the same, of a universally movable controller, control mechanism for the motor mechanism including control elements mov= able in dilferent' planes by the controller and connections from the motor mechanism for causing said elements to follow the movements of the controller.

7. The combination with a universally movable car and motor mechanism for universally operating the same, of a universally movable controller and control mechanism for the motor mechanism actuated by said controller.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a supporting structure, of a t'rackway vertically movable thereon, a bridge longitudinally movable on said trackway, a car transversely movable on said bridge, motor mechanism for operating said trackway, bridge and car and control mechanism for said motor mechanism.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a supporting structure, of a trackway vertically movable thereon, a bridge longitudinally movable on said trackway, a car transversely movable on said bridge, motor mechanism for op erating said trackwa brid e and car and control mechanism or sai motor mechaall 'vided with an operating device.

17. Car unloading apparatus comprising a nisin, including a controller having move- I'nents approximating those of the trackway, bridge and car and control elements actuated by said controller.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a supporting structure, of a trackway vertically movable thereon, a bridge longitudinally movable on said trackway, a car transversely movable on said bridge,motor mechanism for operating said trackvvay, bridge and car, control mechanism for said motor mechanism and a dependent member carried by said car.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination yvith a supporting structure, of a trackvvay vertically movable thereon, a bridge longitudinally movable on ing said trackvvay, bridge and car, controlmechanism for said motor mechanism, a dependent member carried by said car and devices carried by-the car and engageable vvith opposite faces of the dependent member.

13. ln cargo handling mechanism, a universally movable car motor mechanism for driving the same, an a universally movable controller and motor control mechanism mounted on -said car.

It. In cargo handling mechanism, a universally movable car, motor mechanism for driving-the same, a universally movable controller and motor cont'rol'mechanism mounted on said car and-a member dependent from the car. 7 Y

iii/Apparatus of the character described, comprising a housing, a trackway vertically movable in said housing, a bridge longitudinally movable on said trachvvay, a car transversely movable on saidbridge, motor mechzanism for driving the traclrway, bridge andv car and control mechanism for said motor mechanism.

I 16. Car unloading apparatus comprising a car structure arranged for travelona trackvvay, a vertically movable'traclr carried by said structure, a bridge longitudinally movable on said track and a car trans versely movable on said bridge and procar structure arranged for travel on a track Way, a vertically movable track carried by said structure, a bridge longitudinally movable onsaid track, a car transversely movnee-wee able on said "bridge provided with an operating device, a universally movable con troller and motive mechanism under control of the same for universally operating the' motor for operating the same, relatively moyable contacts controlling said motor, a

.controller for shifting one of said contacts and means driven by the motor for shifting theother of such contacts.

19. Apparatus of thecharacter described, comprising a movable member, an electric motor for shifting the same, relatively movable contacts for controlling said motor, a controller for shifting one of said contacts ill Ell

and connections from the motor controlled thereby for shifting the other of said contacts in the direction of movement of the first shifted contact.

20. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a movable member, an electric motor for shifting the same, relatively movable and normally disengaged contacts for controlling the motor, means for shifting one of the contacts to bring the same into engagement with the other contact and motordriven means for shifting said other contact in the same direction as the first contact and until the contacts are again disengaged.

21. Apparatus of the character described, comprising normally disengaged and relatively movable contacts, a motor controlled by said contacts, means for shifting one of the contacts into engagement with the other and means operated by the motor for caus= ing said other contact to follow the movements of the first contact.

llli

22.. Apparatus of the character described, T

comprising a movable member, an electric motor for shifting the same, relatively movable and normally olisengagedcontacts for shitting-said other contact in the same di- I 'rect ibn as the first and until the contacts are aga n disengaged' Apparatusof the character described,

comprising a movable member, electric mo- ;torsfor shitting the same in difierent directions, cooperating relatively movable conactstor each-of the motors movable in dif, terent planes, means for shiftingcertain of 1 said'coutactsand means operated by the motors controlled by said contacts for shifting the. other contacts.

2d. Apparatus of the character described,

comprising a member movable vertically,

longitudinally and transversely, electric motors for shifting said member in such directions and control mechanism for said motors includin contact plates shittable vertically, longitudinally and transversely.

25. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a member movable vert cally, longitudinally and transversely, electr1c motors for shifting said member in such directions, control mechanism for said motors including contact plates shiftable vertically longitudinally and transversely and a controller having a universal connection with said contact plates. a

26. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a member movable vertically, longitudinally and transversely, electric motors for shifting said member in such directions, control mechanism for said motors including contact plates shiftable vertically, longitudinally and transversely, contact members cooperating with said first mentioned contact members and driving connections from the motors controlled thereby for shifting the last mentioned contact members.

27. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a member movable vertically, longitudinallyand transversely, electric motors for shifting said member in such directions, control mechanism for said motors including contact plates shiftable vertically, longitudinally and transversely, a controller having a universal connection with said contact plates, contact members cooperating with said first contact members and connections from the motors controlled thereby for shifting said second contact members in proportion to the movement of the controller.

28. Apparatus of the characterdescribed, comprising a member movable vertically and laterally, electric motor mechanism for shifting the same vertically and laterallyand control mechanism for said motor mechanism including vertically and laterally shiftable contact members and a controller having a members.

29. Apparatus of the character described,

universal connection with said comprising a member movable vertically and laterally, electric motor mechanism for shifting the same vertically and laterally, control mechanism forsaid motor mechanism including vertically and laterally shiftable contact members, a controller having a universafl connection with said members, contact members cooperating with the first contact members and driving connections from the motor mechanism for shifting said second contact members in proportion to the movement imparted by the controller to the first contact members.

30. Apparatus of the character described, comprising amembers movable laterally in two different directions, electric motor mech anism for shifting said member insuch direct-ions and control means for said motor mechanism comprising contact members shiftable in two difi'erentdirections and a controller having a universal connection with said contact members.

31. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a member movable laterally in two difierent directions, electric motor mechanism for shifting said member in such d1- rections, control means. for said motor mechanism comprising contact members shiftable in" two different directions, a controller having "a universal connection with said contact members, contact members cooperating with the first contact members and connections from the motor mechanism fiori shifting said second contact members in proportion to the movement imparted by the controller to the first contact members.

32. In combination with a movable member and electric motors for shiftin the same in different directions,'control p ates movable in different directions and provided with angularly disposed slots, a controller having arms engaged in said slots and circuits for the motors controlled by said several control plates.

33. Apparatus of the character described,

comprising a universally movable member.

and electric motors for shifting the same in difi'erent directions, a controller having vertical and lateral movements and motor control devices governed by said; controller.

34. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a rock shaft, swinging arms pivoted on said rock shaft, a control rod, slidingly engaged with said arms, motor control devices actuated by said rod, a movable member and motors for actuating the same under control of said control devices.

35. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a rock shaft, swinging arms pivoted on said rock shaft, collars carried by said arms, a controller rod slidingly engaged in said collars and motor control de- ;vices actuated by said controller rod.

- 36. Apparatus of the character described,

comprising a contact plate, a brush member for engagement therewith, a controller for shifting said plate member, an electric motor governed by said plate and brush members and connections from said motor for driving the brush member in accordance with the movement imparted to the plate member. '2

37. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a movable plate member carrying contacts interrupted at the central p0rtion of the plate, a brush member for engagement with said contacts and normally standing in the plane of interruption between the contacts, an electric motor controlled by said cooperating members, means for shifting one of the members and connections from the motor for shifting the other of said members in correspondence with the movement imparted to the first member.

38. Apparatus of the character described,

a Working tool carried thereby, electric motors on said carriage for effecting the various movements thereof and control mechanism for said motors including a controller having movements corresponding to those which it is desired to impart to the carriage and tool.

39. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a movable member and electric motors for effecting vertical, longitudinal and transverse movements of the same and able plate having a vertical slot therein, a controller rod having portions engaged in said slots and contacts controlled by said plates.

41. Apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination a universally" movable tool element, motor mechanism for moving the same in various directions, a support for said tool element and a second tool mounted on said support and arranged to be brought into operative position adjacent the first .tool element.

42. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a supporting structure, a track- Way vertically movable thereon, counter- Weight and balancing means attached at opposite ends to relativel separated portions of the tra'ckway and extending over guides on the supporting structure and a car movably supported on said trackvvay.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sets my hand this 20th day of November, 1919.

EDWIN ll-li. MESSITER. 

